San Mateo County Orders Additional PPE As Supplies Dwindle

Personal protective equipment, often referred to as PPE, is in huge demand right now to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. San Mateo County has tens of millions of dollars in orders placed for masks, gloves and other protective gear.

PPE is essential for the safety of frontline healthcare workers, that’s something San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy says the county doesn’t take lightly.

“We have more than 30 million dollars in orders for PPE’s,” said Callagy.

$1 million worth of face shields have been ordered and are expected to arrive in two to four weeks. 54,000 gloves in all sizes are expected in a week, and 1.2 million gowns are expected in one week.

“[we ordered] six million N95 masks for shipment expected in three to four weeks and one million surgical masks expected at the end of May to early June.” said Callagy.

Calgary describes the cache of emergency supplies being at redline, which makes the need even greater.. Companies have stepped up to help with donations.

“The latest one was AbbVie Inc. a biotech company,” said Callagy, “450 pairs of gloves and 14 hundred N95 masks.”

He says these donations make a difference as hospitals will need additional supplies.